Thursday, March 15, 2012

The most recent issue of Sjogren's Quarterly included an article highlighting the formation of a new Sjogren's database:

by Sven-Ulrik Gorr, Seshagiri R. Nandula, and Trevor Wennblom, University of Minnesota; Sara Michie, Stanford University; Ammon B. Peck, University of Florida; Steve Horvath and David T.W. Wong, University of California at Los Angeles

A new database has just been launched to provide an easy-to-use and integrated Sjogren's Syndrome Knowledge Base (SSKB; http://sskb.umn.edu) is open for use by all researchers and the public at large and includes genes and proteins linked to Sjogren's. As founders of this tool, we hope and expect that it will have a profound impact on future research in this disease and ultimately stimulate the formulation and testing of new hypotheses and experimental approaches to investigations into Sjogren's. Sjogren's syndrome and other autoimmune diseases are complex diseases that involve many events that lead to disease initiation and progression. In Sjogren's it is not clear how environmental triggering events combine with cellular and genetic factors to cause an immunologic attack on the salivary and tear glands that ultimately leads to the symptoms of dry mouth and dry eye. The observation that diagnosis often lags behind the onset of disease by a decade or more further complicates the understanding of disease initiation and progression. Thus, despite the substantial efforts by clinicians and researchers around the world, Sjogren's still presents many questions: how is the disease triggered, what is the contribution of genetic susceptibility, how can we improve diagnosis, and what is the optimal treatment for any individual patient?

Excellent.

The Sjogren's Quarterly -- aimed at medical professionals and researchers -- is yet another amazing product of the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation.

2 comments:

Sharon
said...

DEAR Julia-Have wanted to tell you for so long how much your blog has meant to me over the last few years. After an onset of subtle symptoms,(dry eyes and mouth) a series of mini strokes led to the hospital in an ambulance and an eventual diagnosis of Sjogren's, atrial fib, a blood disorder,HBP, asthma and other lung problems, as well as fibromyalgia, and the ever popular CHRONIC FATIGUE.I eventually had to leave my job and have been adjusting to my new life, which is a good one, just really different. Have lost some friends, found out who my real ones are and best of all, really got in touch with how blessed I am! Sounds kind of backwards, I know. My husband and children have been so supportive and I am able to rest when I need to and not worry about dragging myself to work. At first, I felt like such a whiner and that I was going crazy, or had turned into a real hypochondriac-but your blog helped me realize that I have a chronic illness, (that nobody has ever heard of, by the way)and the "old grey mare (me) ain't what she used to be". And hey, if Julia has this too, then it's okay, cause Julia is really cool! I'm 62 and 62 is good, just slower and on more meds. I start my day every day with you and I so appreciate all the time and effort it must take you to keep all of us up on the latest. God Bless you for all you do, you have made a difference in this girl's life. Hugs, Sharon- p.s.And tell Teresa I think she is the bomb, what a good friend. And your husband and mine-they're the best!!!!!

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